Flush tank



Sep1. 29, 1925.

1,555,620 J. G. AYERS ET AL V FLUSH TANK Filed May 1, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l 'WITNESSES' INVENTOR A TTORI VE YS Sept. 29, 1925. v

- J. G. AYER S ET AL FLUSH TANK Filed May 1, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IT ESSES 11v VENTOR W N I ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 29, 1925.

warren stares PATENT JOHN GOEMAN AYERS AND GEORGE DANIEL BARNES, 0:1 DAYTON, TENNESSEE; SAID AYERS ASSIGNOR TO SAID BARNES.

rLusH TANK.

Application filed May 1, 192$.Serial No. 636,001.

To all whomit may concern Be it known that we, JOHN G. Ariana and Gnonon D. Banana, citizens of the United States, and residents of Dayton, in the county of Rhea and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flush Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flush tanks and more particularly to the means for operating the same.

Briefly stated an important object of this invention is to provide a novel form of operating member or valve lifting means for a flush tank, the said valve operating member being located at one end of the tank so that the same is not interfered with by the seat and so that the same is within convenient reach of the operator. 7 y

A. further object of the invention is to provide a flush tank operating mechanism in which the principal element is a lever which is directly connected to the operating mechanism and which has one end provided with an exposed handle by means of which the mechanism may be manually operated.

A further object is to provide a flush tank operating mechanism which is of very simple construction, cheap to manufacture and which is characterized by the small number of parts.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective of a flush tank equipped with the improved valve operating mechanism, indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a group perspective of the valve operating mechanism.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the tank, the View illustrating the valve operating mechanism.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the flush tank with the cover removed, the view illustrating the valve operating mechanism.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention the numeral 5 designates a tank which as illustrated in Figure 1 is located rearwardly of and above a bowl 6 having the usual seat 8 and lid or cover 7.

In the flush tanks now in use, the operat ing handle is usually located. in front of the tank with the result that the seat frequently interferes with the operation of the handle when the seat is elevated and to al low the valve to return to a seated position it is necessary to drop the seat and move the handle slightly.

Furthermore the exposed handle operates through a series oflinks and slotted connec tions to elevate the valve and these parts frequently get out of order.

The flu sh tank operating mechanism forming the subject matter of this application is in the nature of a longitudinally curved lever 10 having one end provided with a se ries of spaced openings 11 for the reception of the attaching portion of a link 12. Fig ure 3 illustrates that the lower portion of the link 12 is provided with an eye 14 through which the stem 15 which has the usual bent or headed upper end is slidably extended. It is believed to be obvious that when the link 12 is elevated the stem 15 of the ball valve 16 will be elevated for allowing the water contained in the tank to es cape in the usual manner.

Figure 3 further illustrates that the longitudinally curved lever 10 is provided at a point between its ends and at a point spaced from its center with a bearing 16 for the reception of the pivot pin 17 carried by one end of a bracket 18. The pivot pin 17 supports the lever 10 for swinging movement and as the apertured end of the lever 10 is heavier than the exposed end of the lever, the apertured end will of course normally remain down. The bracket 18 is provided with an attaching plate 20 which may be secured to the inside wall of the tank by means of fastening devices 22, the said fastening devices also serving to secure a slotted cover or ornamental plate 24 to the outer face of the end of the tank.

In carrying out the invention one end of the lever is arranged exteriorly of the tank and is provided with the handle 26 adapted to be manually depressed for unseating the valve 16. Attention is directed to the fact that the lever 10 when depressed by the operator will exert a direct pull upon the valve 16 and therefore will positively elevate the same.

Furthermore the improved valve operating mechanism consists of only a few parts and consequently will not get out of order quickly. The improved valve operating mechanism may be installed and operated Without in any way interfering with the water supply and control means designated by the numerals which supply means has connection with a float valve 32 which controls the inlet valve in the usual manner.

As the handle 26 is located at one end of the tank the elevation of the seat 7 could not possibly interfere-With the same or hold the valve 16 in its elevated position. The location of the handle 26 is convenient and consequently the operator may readily grasp the same and by depressing the handle the valve 16 will be elevated. The op eration of the lever 10 is positive and unseats the ball valve 16 a sufficient extent to allow the water to quickly discharge. The arrangement illustrated and described is practically noiseless in operation as only a few parts are involved and there is little or no sliding connection between the various parts of the mechanism which would be likely to cause noise.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is The combination with a flush tank having front, rear and end Walls, one of the end walls having a vertical slot therethrough near its upper end, of a bracket secured to the inner face of said end wall contiguous to said slot, said bracket comprising a base plate having a lateral opening in register with said slot and adapted to be secured to the inner face of said end wall, a horizontal bracket arm projecting from said plate an integral pivot pin at the inner end of said bracket arm projecting laterally therefrom, a lever curved laterally and longitudinally mounted on said pivot pin intermediate its length, said lever projecting through the aforesaid slot having a handle portion dis,

posed at an angle to the body portion of the lever, said handle portion extending outwardly of the end wall of the tank, a ball valve seated within the tank and having a stem projecting upwardly therefrom the lat erally curved end of the lever normally disposed directly over said ball valve and stem, and a link adjustably connected to said curved end of the lever and having operative connection with the ball valve stem.

JOHN GORMAN AYERS. GEORGE DANIEL BARNES. 

